Methods and apparatus for instruction of cross pattern crawling and cross pattern walking



Nov. 19, 1968 K I WlLLiAMS 3,411,222

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTION OF CROSS PATTERN CRAWLING AND CROSS PATTERN WALKING Filed Aug. 30, 1965 KAIIHRYN l- WILLIAMS i /4mm WI- 9 1%! ATTORNEYS United States Patent METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTION OF CROSS PATTERN CRAWLING AND CROSS PATTERN WALKING Kathryn L Williams, 716 N. La Grange Road, La Grange Park, Ill. 60528 Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 483,610 7 Claims. (CI. 3529) This invention relates to methods and apparatus for use in the teaching of cross pattern crawling and cross walking.

It is now well accepted medically and neurologically that proper cross pattern crawling and cross pattern walking are of very great benefit to abnormal or near normal children. Exercises involving cross pattern crawling and cross pattern walking are now regularly used in clinics and in the home in the development of brain patterns for the improvement of both normal and abnormal children. Regular exercises in cross pattern crawling and cross pattern walking should give the child pleassure, should be stimulating rhythmic movements and the child should learn automatically the right sequence of arm, leg and head movements.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide novel methods and apparatus for the teaching of cross pattern crawling and cross pattern walking in which the exercise is pleasurable for the child, stimulates rhythmic movements and assists the child to utilize automatically the right sequence of arm, leg and head movements as well as to apprise the supervisor of the exercises when the proper pattern of cross pattern crawling or cross pattern walking is broken so that the proper pattern may be reinstated.

I have found that cross pattern crawling and cross pattern walking is more easily taught the child if sounding devices are placed upon the legs, arms and head of the child which strike together when proper cross pattern crawling or walking is followed with the sounding devices chiming in proper sequence. These soundings give the child pleasure and encourage proper rhythmic movementswhile encouraging the right sequence of arm, leg and head movements. When the sound pattern is broken the instructor knows that proper cross pattern crawling or walking is not being followed by the child and the proper pattern can then be reintroduced.

Cross pattern creeping or crawling is that of movement in which the left leg and the right arm move forward simultaneously as the head and neck turn slightly to the right or toward the forward hand. The eyes should focus on the forward hand. During the next forward movement, the left hand and the right leg move forward as the head and neck turn slightly toward the left and the eyes focus on the left or then forward hand. The leg and hand of the side opposite the forward hand approach each other as the otherarm and leg move apart. The use of sounding devices on the arms and on the legs which contact and sound when the leg and arm of each side come together and the use of a sounding device swinging from the head and contacting a sounding device on the forward arm when the head swings or turns properly establishes a pattern of sound encouraging and stimulating to the child and is indicative to the instructor of proper movements in the pattern.

3,411,222 Patented Nov. 19, 1968 "ice Proper cross pattern crawling is essential to the development of the brain of the infant reaching the crawling stage and is most helpful even to larger children past the crawling stage who, when encouraged to crawl in proper cross pattern, develop portions of the brain with the disappearance of abnormalities and with increase in normal aptitudes.

Cross pattern walking is useful for older children and as an exercise the child is instructed to Walk precisely and rhythmically. As the right foot is moved forward the child points toward his right foot with his left hand and at the same time turns his head and body slightly toward the right focusing his eyes on the right hand. During the next step the left foot moves forward, the right hand points to the left foot and the head and body move toward the left with the eyes focused on the left hand. The use of sounding pieces on the arms and on the head which contact and sound in sequence in proper cross pattern walking is stimulating to the child, makes a game of the exercises, encourages rhythmic and precise movement and apprises the instructor of errors in the walking pattern.

The novel apparatus suitable for use in the methods of the present invention are capable of various mechanical embodiments one of which is shown in the accompanying drawings and is described hereinafter to illustrate the present invention. This preferred embodiment of the apparatus should in no way be construed as defining or limiting the scope of this invention. I

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the apparatus of the present concept as worn by an infant for instruction in proper cross pattern crawling;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 worn by a child during instruction for proper cross pattern walking;

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the sleeve and gong attachments for use upon the arm during cross pattern walking;

FIG. 4 illustrates the portion of the apparatus of FIG. 3 when employed for the instruction of cross pattern crawling;

FIG. 5 shows the sleeve of FIG. 3 as worn for cross pattern crawling;

FIG. 6 shows a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 comprising a sleeve, gong and knee pad for wear upon the leg during cross pattern crawling;

FIG. 7 shows the sleeve of FIG. 6 on the leg of the user; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a preferred apparatus for attachment to the head for use in both cross pattern crawling and cross pattern walking.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 the leg pieces there generally indicated at 10 are in the shape of sleeves of suitable elastic material to pull over the childs legs to extend above and below the knees with a suitable knee patch D secured thereto for the childs comfort. Above the knee patch and knee and at the front of the thigh is attached a gong or other suitable sounding device C which emits a melodious sound when struck by a similar gong or device.

The arm pieces shown at 11 in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are again made of suitable tubular elastic material and are provided with two attached sounding devices or 3 gongs A and B with gong A arranged at the back of the forearm as seen in FIG. 1 and the other attached to the sleeve at the front of the arm above the elbow as seen at B in FIG. 1 when used for cross pattern Crawling.

As seen in FIG. 1, when proper cross pattern crawling is followed the left arm and the left leg approach and gongs A and C will sound and during the next forward movement the corresponding gongs on the right arm and right leg will sound.

The headpiece shown generally at 12 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 comprises any suitable type of head harness 13 comprised of straps E and cheek straps F which cheek straps F support a resilient trunk-like member H provided with a round metal end member or striker K. The length of resilient member H may be adjusted for the size of the child by side straps G.

In proper cross pattern crawling the childs head and body turn toward the forward arm and end K will then swing and strike the sounding device or gong B on sleeve 11 so that the sounding of gongs A and C and the sounding of gongs B by end K indicates the proper rhythmic movement in the pattern.

In cross pattern walking, sleeve members 11 are so disposed that the sounding devices or gongs B are positioned on the childs forearm where they can be struck by end member K of trunk 12. When proper cross pattern walking is accomplished the child points with the opposite hand to the forward foot and swings the head and eyes to look at the pointing hand so that end member K swings into contact with gong B emitting a musical note. During the next step the opposite hand swings forward and points, the head turns toward the opposite hand and the gong B is struck emitting a musical note. Thus when proper cross pattern walking is rhythmically accomplished it is indicated by a succession of evenly spaced rhythmically sounded notes which are both pleasing to the child as a game and instructive to the child of the proper procedures in his walk as well as indicating to the instructor that proper sequence in the walking pattern is being followed.

It should now be apparent that the present invention in every way satisfies the objective discussed above and is particularly useful in the teaching of proper cross pattern crawling and cross pattern walking encouraging neurological development; is appealing to the user because of the rhythmically recurring sound; and is useful to the instructor as indicating a break in the proper pattern of movement.

Changes may now be suggested to those skilled in the art to the methods and apparatus described above without departing from the present invention and reference should be had to the appended claims to determine the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of teaching and improving cross pattern crawling for development of portions of the brain of normal and abnormal individuals comprising the steps of afiixing a sound producing means on each leg of the user, affixing sound producing means on each arm of the user for engagement by the one of said sound producing means on the adjacent leg and affixing a sound producing means on the head of the user for alternate engagement with said sound producing means on the arms, each of said sound-producing means being so located on their respective body portions such that when the user is in a crawling position, the sound-producing means on an arm can contact the sound-producing means on the adjacent leg and the sound-producing means on the head can contact the sound-producing means on an arm whereby proper cross pattern movement by the user produces audible sequential rhythmic sounds.

2. The method of teaching and improving cross pattern walking for development of portions of the brain of normal and abnormal individuals comprising the steps of alrixing a sound producing means on each arm of the user and afiixing a sound producing means on the chin of the user for alternate engagement with said sound producing means on the arms each of said soundproducing means being so located on their respective body portions such that when the user is walking normally, the sound-producing means afiixed to said chin alternately engage the sound-producing means affixed to said arms whereby proper cross pattern movement by the user produces audible sequential rhythmic sounds.

3. The method of teaching and improving cross pattern movement for development of portions of the brain of normal and abnormal individuals comprising the steps of affixing sound producing means on each arm of the individual, afiixing sound producing means on each le'gof the individual and atfixing sound producing means on-the head of the individual each of said sound-producing means being so located on their respective body portions such that when the user is in proper cross-pattern movement, the sound-producing means on the adjacent leg, and the sound-producing on the head can contact the soundproducing means on an arm said sound producing means being selectively engageable upon movement by the ndividual whereby proper cross pattern movement produces audible sequential rhythmic sounds.

4. Apparatus for teaching and improving cross pattern movement for development of portions of the brain of normal and abnormal individuals comprising an arm sleeve adapted to fit on each arm, gongs on each of said arm sleeves, a leg sleeve adapted to fit on each leg, a gong on each of said leg sleeves, a flexible trunk member secured to the head and a striker end member on said trunk member each of said gongs being so located on their respective sleeves that when the user is in proper cross-pattern crawling one of said gongs on said arm sleeve can contact said gong on the adjacent one of said leg sleeves and said end member can contact one of said gongs on the other of said arm sleeves and said end member can contact one of said gongs on said arm sleeve opposite the forward leg during proper cross pattern walking.

5. Apparatus for teaching and improving cross pattern movement for development of portions of the brain of an individual comprising sound producing means adapted to be secured to each arm, sound producing means adapted to be secured to each leg and sound producing means adapted to be secured to the head each of said sound-producing means being so located on their respective body portions that when the user is in proper cross pattern crawling, one of said sound producing means on an arm can contact said sound producing means on the adjacent leg and said sound producing means on the head can contact one of said sound producing means on the other arm and when the user is in proper crosspattern walking said sound producing means on the head can contact one of said sound producing means on the arm opposite the forward leg.

6. The method of teaching and improving cross-pattern crawling for development of portions of the brain comprising the steps of afiixing sound instituting means on each leg of the user, affixing sound instituting means on each arm of the user for engagement by one of said sound instituting means of the adjacent leg and affixing sound instituting means on the head of the user for alternate engagement of said sound instituting means on the arms, each of said sound instituting means being so located on their respective body portions such that when the user is in a crawling position, the sound instituting means on an arm can contact the sound instituting means on the adjacent leg and the sound instituting means on the head can contact the sound instituting means on an arm whereby cross-pattern crawling by the user produces audible sequential rhythmic sounds.

7. The method of teaching and improving cross-pattern Walking for development of portions of the brain comprising the steps of affixing sound instituting means on 5 6 each arm of the user and affixing sound instituting means References Cited on the chin of the user for alternate engagement with UNITED STATES PATENTS sald sound lnstltutlng means on the arms, each of said sound instituting means being so located on their re- 844,041 2/1907 Owens 1,031,307 7/1912 Wolfe 2207 spective body portions such that when the user is in proper 5 cross-pattern walking, the sound instituting means affixed 1,510,783 10/1924 Jehnsonto said chin alternately engages the sound instituting 21611135 9/1952 Iny 116170 means aflixed to said arms whereby proper cross-pattern Walking by the user produces audible sequential rhythmic EUGENE CAPOZIO P'lmary Examme" sounds. 10 H. S. SKOGQUIST, Assistant Examiner.

Dedication 3,4l1,222.-Kathr;vn I. Williams, La Grange Park, Ill. METHOD AND APPA- RATUS FOR INSTRUCTION OF CROSS PATTERN CRAWLING AND CROSS PATTERN WALKING. Patent dated Nov. 19, 1968. Dedication filed Dec. 22, 1981, by the assignee, Beverly E. William.

Hereby dedicates this patent to the People of the United States of America.

[Official Gazette February 16, 1982.] 

1. THE METHOD OF TEACHING AND IMPROVING CROSS PATTERN CRAWLING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PORTIONS OF THE BRAIN OF NORMAL AND ABNORMAL INDIVIDUALS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF AFFIXING A SOUND PRODUCING MEANS ON EACH LEG OF THE USER, AFFIXING SOUND PRODUCING MEANS ON EACH ARM OF THE USER FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE ONE OF SAID SOUND PRODUCING MEANS ON THE ADJACENT LEG AND AFFIXING A SOUND PRODUCING MEANS ON THE HEAD OF THE USER FOR ALTERNATE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SOUND PRODUCING MEANS BEING SO LOCATED ON THEIR SAID SOUND-PRODUCING MEANS BEING SO LOCATED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE BODY PORTIONS SUCH THAT WHEN THE USER IS IN A CRAWLING POSITION, THE SOUND-PRODUCING MEANS ON AN ARM CAN CONTACT THE SOUND-PRODUCING MEANS ON THE ADJACENT LEG AND THE SOUND-PRODUCING MEANS ON THE HEAD CAN CONTACT THE SOUND-PRODUCING MEANS ON AN ARM WHEREBY PROPER CROSS PATTERN MOVEMENT BY THE USER PRODUCES AUDIBLE SEQUENTIAL RHYTHMIC SOUNDS. 